The Healthiest Kinds of Milk

by
DANIEL J. SCHULTZ Oct. 03, 2017

Daniel J. Schultz

Daniel Schultz is a graduate student at Montana State University in the Community Health program. He considers himself to be a public health nutritionist while working towards his dietetic certification, who aspires to change the social, economic, agricultural, and political environment to promote wellness. He has completed six half marathons, one full marathon and a century bicycle ride. His experience of overcoming obesity as a teenager is the catalyst for his work in public health and his belief in lifestyle interventions.

For an affordable source of protein and nutrients, milk is always a good choice. Milk can increase the calcium, potassium, vitamin D and magnesium in your diet. . The USDA recommends that you consume two to three servings of dairy per day. However, not all milk is created equal -- and some options can be healthier than others.

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Consider Fat Content

If you are trying to consume fewer calories, choose fat-free or low-fat milk options. Fat-free milk has 66 fewer calories and 4 grams less of saturated fat per cup compared to whole milk. Choose lower-fat versions especially when you drink more than one serving of a milk per day.

Keep it Plain

The American Heart Association recommends that you consume only 5 to 9 teaspoons of sugar per day.Photo Credit: Comstock/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Kids may gravitate toward flavored milk, but not for its nutritional content. Flavored milk really should be called sweetened milk, because sugar is the main addition to the product. An 8-ounce carton of flavored milk has about 4 teaspoons of added sugar. Healthier choices are plain varieties of milk that are not flavored and feature only naturally occurring sugar -- lactose -- found in dairy products.

Go Organic

Organic milk can be twice the price of conventionally produced milk.Photo Credit: Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images

Because of cattle grazing and diet requirements, organic milk features additional nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in eye health. A study in the “Journal of PLOS ONE” showed that organic milk contains 63 percent more omega-3s than conventionally produced milk. The study emphasized, however, that fatty fish like salmon provides you with significantly more omega-3s.

Plant-Based Options

Drink plant-based milks, such as almond, soy, rice and coconut, if you are not able to digest lactose. Plant-based milks can provide nutrients commonly found in dairy milk, sometimes in higher quantities. Almond milk contains 15 percent more calcium than skim dairy milk. Also, soy milk contains 5 percent more vitamin D than dairy. Choose plant-based varieties that are labeled as unsweetened, because many contain flavorings and added sugar. Look for coconut milk in the refrigerated section; the canned version is more concentrated and higher in calories.